I am the least likely person to review an Italian bakery. I have a short list of ingredients I simply find intolerable. Italian bakers use anise, rum flavoring, almond flavoring, ricotta and citrons by the handful. If any one of these comes near me I lose my appetite. I have thrown out entire cakes when I detected rum flavor. Canoli stay away from my door, almond biscotti keep away from me.
Presti's attracts a wide circle of fans. UH Nurses as well as patients and their families come here. CWRU students and faculty sit next to one another. People from all over as well as neighborhood residents sip coffee or bite into pizza. It is not possible to label Presti's as a hangout for any subgroup. It successfully caters to the many who come to the Circle and the Hill.
The bread, bakery and pizza offer an abundance of choices to satisfy anyone. The prepared dishes ranging from simple sub sandwiches to chicken picatta are as good as any on the Hill. Since this is an Italian establishment gelato and expresso are available.
This is a busy place. This is a happy place. Sitting here you are glad some of Cleveland survives. You can imagine you are in the past, or in a movie, or in some other place. Luckily you are on Mayfield Hill and can return.